Mixing equipment



Sept. 30, 1952 R. D. BOUTROS 2,612,391

MIXING EQUIPMENT Filed Sept. 16, 1950 5 Sheqts-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

RICHARD 0. 50077703 BY i2 7- HIS A TTORNEY Sept. 30, 1952 R. D. BOUTROS 2,612,391

MIXING EQUIPMENT Filed Sept. 16, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN R/QHARD D. B0 05 HIS A rromvgr Paenea Sept. so, 1952 2,612,391 MIXING EQUIPMENT .Richard D Boutros, Brighton, N. Y., ssignor to" Mixing Equipment 00., Inc., Rochester, N. Y.,

a corporation of New York Application September 16, 1950, Serial No. 185,277

UNITED/STATES PATENT 8 Claims.-

Y 1 This invention relates to material agitating and mixing means and more particularly to the variety thereof in which the materials are mixed in a tank or other receptacle having a motor driven shaft extending through a wall of the tank and provided therein with a propeller or other agitating means, one object of the invention being to provide an improved apparatus of the above character having a more simple, practical and convenient construction.

In such an apparatus, the opening. in the tank wall through which the shaft extends requires sealing by suitable packing means such as the known stuffing box the packing material of which requires replacement from time to time and a further object of the invention is to provide an improved auxiliarymeans for temporarily sealing the tank opening while such packing material is being replaced, without having to first lower the contents of the tank below the level of the stuff: ins box.

Another object of the invention is to provide'a mixing device having an improved bearing structure for supporting the shaft and by means of which the shaft can be easily moveda short dis? tance'longitudinally to operate the above aux- 1 iliary sealing means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mixing'device of the above character with means forsupplying the auxiliarysealing means with a flushing fluid under pressure to prevent the contents of ,the receptacle, often of a corrosive na-' ture, from contacting theauxiliary sealing means and the packing in'the stuffing box.

Still'a further object of the invention is to provide a mixing device that is adapted for use either as a side or top entering mixer and which; with a minimum of transposition of parts, may also be used as a bottom'entering mixing device.

' To these andother ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts,all as will be hereinafter more fully de-' scribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end'of the specification.

' In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of plied to a side of a mixing receptacle;

" Fig. 2-is an enlarged elevation of the outer end of theabove device as viewed from line 2-2 of.

- 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view,

"Fig.4 is an enlargedsectional plan view of the innerend of the mix ng device as shown in Fig.

-' Fig." '5 is an'enlarged sectional plan view of the I has adjacent the outer end and midportion thereof bearing structures. shown generally at 45 and;

I shaft 63 is connected by coupling -65 to aworm" a mixing device embodying the present invention and shown as apouter end of the mixingdevice showing the outer;

ee ng-co u V Fig. 6 levation of a slightly modified con- Fig. 7 is an elevation of the construction shown 5 in Fig. 6, partly in section andpartlyl broken away, showing details of the construction, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the upper portion of the mixing device as shown in Fig. 7, with the auxiliary sealing means in sealing position. r a

This invention I illustration, as embodied in a unit adapted for driving the impeller or agitator shaftqf mixing equipment comprising aliquid container partly outer sections 33, 35 and 31, respectively, which are bolted together to form a rigid frame as shown; Frame 3| issecured at the inner end thereof by bolts 39 toa flange 4| which in tum' -is fastened to, nozzle flange 29 by bolts 43. Frame 31 41 (Fig. 3), respectively, for rotatably' suppqrting an agitator drive shaft 49 which extends longitu dinally through said frame, through nozzle 21 and into the container. Shaft 49 has a suitable agitating or impelling device, as, for'example, a propeller, secured to the inner end thereof (not f shown), as well understood in'the art. A hollow-j. quill 5| surrounding the midportion" of shaft .49; is supported at the inner and outerjends'thereof by quill bearings 53 and 55, respectively, and has its upper end'connected toshaft 49 by a flexible coupling 51 ,of known and suitableconstructiqn;

Frame 3| has a transvers'ely projectingarm 59.

for supporting an electric motor G I which fur nishes the power for operating the mixer. "Motor (not shown) which in turn drives aworm' gear (not shown) attached to quill 51.. Reference is made to the patent to Hesse, No., 2,489,642, for afull and complete disclosure of the details of the:

cylindrical sleeve or body portion 'II- is mounted? on flange 4| so asto seal "flangedcontainer opening 21 to whichv themixing device is secured.

End 69 forms the outerend ofa flushing 'chamber hereafter more fully described,"and extends:

into the container, contacting the materials" I therein. ,End 69 hasan opening 13 bored'therein, through which shaft. passes with minimum clearance 'therebetween. The inner diameter of sleeve portion H is substantiallylargerthan'the diameter of shaft 49, leaving'aspace'li (Fig; 4.)

therebetween which is open; at the outer end thereof "and 'is adapted to receive -a plurality of is herein'disc1osed,fby way of- 3 packing rings, 1'I'@'(Fig.;;3 to prevent the cone tents of the 'c'ontainerfrom escaping alongshaft 49 through opening 13, as well understood in the art. Sleeve portion II has formed adjacentthe open end thereof a transversely extendingflange 19 (Fig. 3) which is adapted to bejconnected by bolts BI and nuts 83 to a gland '85'for drawing said gland into space to compress the packing rings and thereby insure a tight seal'in saidstuff-' ing box.

Stufling box 61 preferably comprises an extensipnthereofshowngenerally, at 8'6 (Figs. 3 and I v 4) forming a flushing chamber; which 1is-.connected tqwfi; supply of flushing. fluid, as, for. ex-

ampletwater, 1 supplied. under a pressure I slightly reater than thepressure exerted by the. con tents of .thereceptacle; by means of which said receptacle. contentsgare prevented from passing through opening-B and contacting packing rings I1. This flushing chamber comprises a flushing '4 the stufiing box" when gland-f85f "isf{loosened and packing rings H are removedas" shown in Fig. 4. To insure a more positive seal in instances where the tank. contains toxic gases, and the like, a gasket I I3 is positioned on shaft 49 between collar cavityhousing :8! (Fig. .4). attached to inner-end 69;.of stuflingboxIi'I. The inner end 89 ofnous-'- ing BI-has -f rmed therein an opening-BI throughv whichlshaftl llpasseswith a minimum of clearance; :To..provide effective, sealing at the inner end ;of,.t he flushing chamber, shaftdi! is provided with a closely fitting flushing; -seal.ring. 93 of" fiber, metal. or, other suitable known material.

Av-seal ring cap ';95, 'secured to flushing cavityhousing-181:, is 'formed with a recess 96 which is adapted tofr eceiveseal ring 93 and securelyposition said ring against flushing cavity housing .end 89.:and shaft ,4 9 ,as shown inFig. 4.

Stu'fllng'. box sleev'e. portion "II, has formed thereinQaminIet 91 (Fig. 4) which'is connected to opening I 3 in end portion 69 by internal bores 93 andgjlll, as shown in Fig}; by means of which I the .fiushing fluidpasses into the flushingjcham berg Although the flushing sealiring 93Tand' retaining'capfliform an efiective seal thereby- 'reducinglthe interchange of the 'fiushingfluid' andv contents of the receptacle, it should be noted that as} .the fius hi ng .fluid is I ul iderv slightly greater pressure than that exerted by the contents of the i receptacle, any leakage will be out oflthe' flushingchamber'into ,the receptacle and thus the re; ceptacle: contents ,will' be prevented from contacting} the packing rings. I The flushing fluid is' of suc hja character .andJin such small quantityas avoid objectionable .contam'nation off 'the' contents. of the container;

, movement cr me bearing. A dust sear 135,

' between chamber I I5 and neev I3! as -shftwnf As stated earlie'rjshaft 49 is rotatably supported on" frame "3| by inner and outer bearing structures 41 and 45; respectively (Fig. 3), which are similar in construction so that a description of the inner bearing structure 4? will apply to both. r I

The .inner. or.lo. i preferably'fa .recess or. chambe formed in the outer. end II11 fofI.inner..-fr

time; sec

tion.33.l Slidably fit'ted.iii'chainber 115,15 bau.

bearing Ila-of any-knowno :s'uitableconstruction,' having ataperedinterna opening I 2 I' Y e gaging the. correspondingly-tapered outer su faceportion I23 ofasleeve l25'fitted to'thedrive shaft 49." Sleeve I 25"is'ofl'resilieht' metalTspli'tI longitudinally and so capable ofbei'ngcontracted and. releasably; clamped toi the shaitf 1 For, this...

purpose; one, end of the sleeve Lhas fithr'eadedly" engaged vtherewith La. thrust means on lock nut 1 I21 carrying a .washerTI29 bearing against one end ofsleeve I3'I'. slidablefl longitu'dinallyQon 1a cylindricalportio'n' of .'.tlie outer: surface o' fjslee've l I25; The opposite endof sleeve I 25'lbears'against I ball bearing 1 I I 9 for moving the same i lon'gitu j dinally tooppojsethe taperedisurfac'es T-I'Z IjandQI'ZQ ofthe bearing and slec'a'veandso'contract'and clamp the split sleeve I25 on the,shaft. ,A nap" ring I331 is located 'a djacentthe"upperiope d of chamber" ll 1530f limiting the" longitudinal? any known j or 5 suitable construction; .isjloca in Fig. 4.

The outer or upper shaft beamlg' a's seen "in Fig. 3;and the means-"for movingthesh'aft lo'r'i gitudinall'yf to actuate the above auxmary seal; i5 ing device -'eomprises' agibeanng hdusmg141 (Fi'g'i 5) having oppositely "extendin'" handles 3'? Housing I4 I 'threadedly engages a flange I 45 located at the-outerbr rree errd ofoutei' frame Shaft .49 is 'providedwith an. alternative seal- 1 ing device which is adapted --to temporarily en'- gage thelouter surface of Iinneren'dIBQ ofthe'f stuifing' box to sealopening- 13' therethrough and" prevent the contentsof the receptacle from es-. caping. along shaft 49 when ,itis desired, to 're-.

movethe packing from 1 the stuffing ,bo'x and the level of the contents in ithe'lreceptacle is above the'inner end of the stuifin'g box. 1 d

This temporarily sealing "device comprises a closely fitting collar I03 (Fig.4) secured to shaft. 49 bya set screw I05 as shown in Fig. 4. Collar I 03 is located inboard "of .end,69 of stufling box ingchamber as described above, said collar is .65 located within fi ushing cavity. .housing' 8'Ijas shown in. Fig. 4 Theopposite sides I01 and"; I09. of collar I 03 have finished.surf aces and when; .theshaft. is moved outwardly through saidstuif ing box, .by; means. to be hereafter -described,i"side' lfll of" .the. collar closely vengages outer surface III ofstuffingrboxendrfieand forms therewith-J a tight seal toiprevent the; contents. of the ee ql romre s ne t e efi n nei 0:;

similar toichamber :I I 5:4 A'ball bearing .1 49; sinfe lar'to bearing zl I9 i's heldzinrl'pbsitioninichambeiw tapered internal 'openingpl 53 vengaging jhe mpered por-ti-onlfi of a split-sleeve-I5'I. Bearing? I49 is 'held in engagement; with tapered; :portion I55 ofaslee've"I:5'I-'byfanlocm nut;-I.5.9 carrying an washer I6 I bearing-1 against :ione--.end; Ofaa? sleeve- I63. Said sleeve, lock nut andvrasherifarer idenwardly until tapered portion I55 orslettitt e -ta r er n- 1 f? b arin I 4. w ic n mini e p c n.- thteed deu e b e i g. housing MI by snap ring I 5I Thus bearing;- tehw .m-en wh fi aeiaaoi in-Fig. 4, thereby allowing relativemovement betweenshaft 43 andbearing IIS, and thenunscrew threaded outer bearing housing I4I which moves shaft 49 outwardly and upwardly from its position 'as shown in Fig. 3 to its position as shown-in Fig. 5 at which point collar I03 is in engagement with stufling box end 69 or gasketI I3 as shown in Fig. 4. Coupling 51 is sufficiently ,flexibleso that shaft 49 can be moved relative entering mixer, it is to be realized that the above mixer isadaptable for use as a top entering mixer by merely securing it to a flanged nozzle (not shown) on the top of a receptacle. Moreover, if it is desired, the above mixer can be mounted on asuitable frame (not shown) for use with an opentoptank. I

Notwithstanding the fact thatin the above arrangements of the mixing apparatus the stuffing box has been shown comprising an extension thereof; which forms a flushing chamber, it is evident that in many instances it will be unnecessary or undesirable to include such a flushn chamben'and this feature may be dispensed with without affecting the operation of the above auxiliary sealing means. When the mixer is operatedin corrosive materials requiring the use of special alloy constructions, as, for example, stainless steel, the omission of the'fiushing chamber will-result in considerable saving in the cost of construction.

The above mixing device can be readily arranged for operation as a, bottom entering mixer for a liquid container such as partly shown at I13 (Fig. 6), having 9, bottom portion I15 formed with a nozzle I'I'I which has at the outer, end thereof a flanged portion I19. In this instance. stuffing boxil, flushing chamber 86 and flange 4| are removed from the inner end of inner flange section 33, as shown in Fig. 3, and are secured by bolts 43 to flange I13 as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

Aiiat plate I8I (Fig. 6), forming a base for, supporting the mixing device, is fastened to the lower end of frame section 33 by suitable bolt means (not shown). I

Shaft 49 is replaced by a similar shaft I83 (Figs. 7 and 8) having the samediameter but somewhat longer. Outer'bearing housing cap I I I isremoved and shaft I83 extends outwardly through said bearing housing, through fstufl ing box 61 and into container I13 as shown in Fig. '7.

Shaft I83 is secured to outer bearing sleeve I51 by snap rings I65 and I61 in the same manner as was shaft 43, and extends through frame 3! to a point below the lower or inner shaft bearing structure as 41 shown in Fig. '7. p v

In addition, the above mixing device, when arranged :as a bottom entering'mixer, has an auxiliary sealing means similar to that described above, by means of which the contents of the receptacle may be preventedfrom escaping into stufling box 61 when packing TI is removed. The

auxiliary sealing means comprises collar I03 secured by'set screw Ill-5 to shaft I 33 at a point between stuflins box end 69 and flushing cavity stufling box closing saidopening around..-said n shaft, packing means in said'..stumng2boxz ac vcollar and flushing cavity end, as shown -inFig.: 8,..s

when the tank contains toxic gases and the. like; Thus, it will be seen that the'above invention. provides a compact mixing device which is eco-. l nomically and conveniently adapted for use as I either a side, top or bottom entering mixer, and which in all cases is provided with an improved temporary auxiliary sealing means to prevent-the... contents of the receptacle from leaking intothe stufling box while the stufling box packing is beingremoved and replaced, even though the level of the contents in the container isabove said stumng box. This auxiliary sealing means is conveniently operated without tools by means of the threaded housing part MI and handles I43. "The, above. mixing device is also provided with an improved flushing chamber whereby the contents of the receptacle are prevented from contacting the temporary sealing means and stufling box 1 packing. I r g It will thus be seen that the invention accome; plishes its objects andwhile it has been'hereinw disclosed by reference to the details of preferred embodiments, itis to; be understood thatsuch. disclosure is intended in an. illustrative, rathen: than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that.

' various modifications in the construction and-' invention and the cope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. .A mixing device for use with a fluid-cone taining receptacle having an opening ina :wall: thereof, said, mixing device comprising a rotatable shaft extending through said opening, a stufiing box closing said opening around-said,- shaft, packing means in said stufling box acces sible through the outer end thereof andfrom the= i exterior of the receptacle, an auxiliary -sealing; means onsaid shaft adapted for.sealing'engage-" ment with. said stuffing box when thesha-ft is i moved longitudinally through said stufling-bom: a supporting frame, bearing means on said frame for rotatably'supporting saidshaft, and-means threadedly engaging said frame and. connected with one of said bearing means for moving saidone of said bearing means and said shaft longi- Y tudinally relative to said frame to bringa said auxiliary sealing means into sealing contact with said stuffing box for sealing said opening during withdrawal of said packing means. from said stuiiing box.v 2. A mixing device as specified in claim 1 com-ii; prising a collar mounted on said shaft in .nor.-.: mally spaced relation-with theend ofv said stuff.-: ing box and adapted to be engaged therewith-to seal the same by outward longitudinal move-1;. ment of said shaft.-,. t-

3. A-mixing device for use with a fluid-cone taining receptacle having an opening ,in. .a ;wa11 thereof, said mixing device comprising a rota= table shaft extending through said opening;.=. a=-..-

cessibienthroughatheiouter throughsaidbearing means:

lend ith eieof zandzif 10m- 11' theii'extefiio zrc :ethenreceptacle; an'auzdliarysseale; iIIg'JIIIGaIIEOII' said :shafti adapted .ionsealinge'ene gagementzwith; saidzstuffi'ng ,box when the shaft;

isimonedjlongitudirially througl'nsaid: stuffing-box;

a supporting f-rameg: spaced: bearingaimeansyfona saidz'ssha'ita'one: ofi which ahaspa gpart 1 releasably: n fixedottozzfsai'd' 1. shaft andgithe iothen'iof "which is:

. monab'm mounted s-on said-j frame;-: andgmeansra threadedlytgiengagingiisaid zframerjand connectedcqg; witirzsaidsotherrbeaning:meansiffor movingssaid otherzibearing ;ameansz" and ii-sh'aft 'longitudinally; '7

relativeam said-"frame; ,seaii'ngmeans into sealin contact with'saidstu'fi ingsabomv f onziseaiinga'saidiopening :duringz: .withe'; I

taming: eceptacle: v: hayingitan-z opening; :inxa a vwal-L I thereof;rxsaid'xmixingt.deVicercompriSihg ca arotataib'l shaftt extending: through said:.-'opening,; a=

shaftiopackingi means; in; said. stuffingi :bjox ac theliexteriorrof the re'ceptacie;- an auxiliary sea-1e cessible-ithroughithe outer-end.';thereof and- 'fromm' ingz'smeans ;onz=s'aidashaft adaptedsioir seaiingxenei gagem'ent with said stumn'g' box when-the: shatt'.

is zmoxzedilongitudinally through said stuffing-box;

frame for: supportingisaid shaft for rotation and a supporting frame;ispaced beaningmeanszon=said '30 longitudinal adjustment, and means threaddly engaging saidsframe and 'connected with one of saidszbearing means 1 foiw moving s a-id bearing meanss l and 'shaft longitudina11y to' bring" 'said i auxiliary-sealing means into sealing contact with saidz 'stuffin'glibox foi' sealing 's'aid opening -durii1gf Withdrawal oi 'said p asking means fromsaid stufi in'gfi'boxnthe other ofisaid bearing-means having I a partzreleasably' fixe'd tb saimshjaft foi ailowing longitudinali i movement; oi said shaft'-- re1ative' theretoi the firstimentioned-:bearing, nie'ans -hav-V v ing a part releasably fixed to said shaft for releasingithe same fox-withdrawal longitudinally ifrom'saidvframe. "I p v 5'."L.A;mixing device. as specified incla'im 4 in 1 whicl'rrteach of said.:bearing' means comprises=asplitysleeverreleasably clamped to said shaft for i releasingxsaidzshaft for longitudinal movement "taming;receptacleuhaving an opening in a wall thereofirsaidfmixing.devicecomprising a rotatable: shaftiextndingithroughsaid opening, a stufling boxgclosingisaid opening around said shaft,"packingimeans :in saidstuffin'g box "accessible through theiouter'end:thereofi and. from the exterior of; the-receptacle, an auxiliarysealing means onsaid shaft :adapted for; sealing engagement with said stufling;{box whenzthei. shaft ismoved longitudihavingmatzthe: .innerend ther'eof a housing en-- closing jsai'd: shaftand seaiingmeans and -forming a flushing chamber, means for supplying said chamber withfaaifiushing'flui-d under pressure'ior preventing the contents of said reeepta'c1e from i rsaid stufiing box for sealing said'opening'ffiu mg" .LzA mixingsdeyice jfomuseawith,aafluideon-w taming;receptaclerhavingzi'an-r opening inra wa thereofi-saidzmixing deyiceicomprising a rotatable shaft extending through :said :openingzaamstuflin QbOX-CIO SiIIg said 'opening; around-Fsaid-shaft; pack.

ing;meanstin :said :stu'fiingvbox; accessible. through the: outen fiendeth'eifieofiiandzififom the 3 BXtBI'iOFLOfi the i i'eceptaclezi sand auxiliary-e; sealing: meansno 1' said 'shait adapted: foizisealingvengagement .wit isaid stu'ffing box when theglshaftlis movedilongi tudina'llyf through (said: stufing :hox, .said :stufiin box ihaving; at itheninneri :endathereof caishousingre enclosing;saidzshaftigandqsealingmeansranddorm -1 ing'. a flushing;chambemmeansior supplyingxai preventingnth'e';contentsvoff.saidrreceptacleizfro contacting s aidtsea'ling means and zpackin'gim'ean gasket means sealing the inner end of saidaho'us i-u ing to iisai'd. Sh&ft,;ll a: supporting frame; i-beaiiin'g -;me'ans 'movablysimountedi on said: frame: (for woes ta-tably suppontingsaid; shaft; .and meansithread ediy*engagingesaideframe and connected-with m1 of isaida -bearingiimeans's for moving isaidi'on'e'i saidi'b'ea'rin'g means ancisaid: shaft longitudinally toubringsaid auxiliary sealing meansinto seal-' in'g contact with I said-stuffing box: foi- -se'ali-ng said opening during withdrawal of said packingn V fromucontacting sai'd sealing means -and packing' mea-ns,"izgasket ineans sea-ling the'* inner" end I of said 'housin'g to :said sha-ft supporting-frame spaced'nbearin'g nieans= on "said 'frame -ior poiitingi said -shaft for' 'o'ta tion and for-Hon ,tudi'nal -adj ustmen'tr am means threadediyf -e' gaging :said --f1va'rn'e and connected :with ion'e" of't" said bearing means' for moving "said? eating means I? and -shaft longitudinal-lj' "to?" bring said? auxiliary sealingmeansii ito sea lingcontact with withdrawai} ofsaid 'papkingfmeans";from, stoning-hex; th other 'of s'aid" bearing means I hay partfi ei sab' fixed;,tofsaid shaftlfbrlalibi g longitudinal movement of, said shaftfrlk 0 tiv hereto; he 1 first; mentioned ,bearingw means ha a'par tdetaehably fixed to saidi's'ha'ft i'f contacting-said sealing means and pack mg means; 1 a supporting-frame;ibearing means'on said frame fori rotatably supporting said shaft, and means threadedly engaging said frame and connected with-one; .of said" bearing: means I for moving the samei'anda's'aid shai'lt' longitudinally relativeto said" frameiito; bringasaid sealing means into sealing-- contactiiwith said stufling box" ior sealingsaith said packin'g me ns 4 ollehingsduring Withdrawal of from satdistumng';box.: :a

reieas ng the;

same for, withd 'awai longitudinally 1 I n ILB UIRQSL;

, BEFERE EW 'h "following i'e re esia e 'of eco da-intt e, 

